Operating knob or handle for shafts and the like



y 1942- M. H. RICHARDSON ETAL 2,288,955

OPERATING KNOB OR HANDLE FOR SHAFTS AND THE LIKE Original Filed April26, 1939 Patented July 7, 1942 I OPERATING KNOB OR HANDLE FOR SHAFTS ANDTHE LIKE Myron H. Richardson and Floyd 0. Black, Chicago, and Albert E.Gebert, Wilmette, 111., assignors to Advance Machine Company, Chicago,111., a corporation of Illinois Original application April 26, 1939,Serial No.

270,092. Divided and this application September 23, 1940, Serial No.357,880

8 Claims.

This application is a division of application Serial #270,092, filedApril 26, 1939, and relates more specifically to an operating handle,particularly adapted, though not necessarily limited in use for themechanism described in the aforesaid application.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an improvedhandle or operating structure which will yield under abnormal conditionswith respect to the shaft with which it is connected, so that themechanism which is to be set into motion by the operation of such shaftwill be prevented from becoming damaged.

To the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of other new anduseful objects as will appear, the invention consists in the features ofnovelty in substantially the construction, combination and arrangementof the several parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed andshown in the accompanying drawing illustrating this invention, and inwhich Figure 1 is a view partly in side elevation, partly broken away,and partly in section, showing a handle or knob constructed inaccordance with the principles of this invention applied to theoperating shaft of a coin control mechanism.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of aportion of the shaft and the knob or handle attached thereto.

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view taken on line 33 Figure 2 looking inthe direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view taken on line 44 Figure 2 looking inthe direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view taken on line 5-5 Figure 2 lookingin the direction of the arrows.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral I designatesgenerally the operating knob or handle which is connected to anoperating shaft II of a coin control mechanism, the latter beingdiagrammatically illustrated as at I 2.

In order to protect the mechanism against damage in an attempt tooperate the same by the actuation of the knob or handle I0, underpredetermined conditions, that is, when the shaft I I meets withabnormal obstruction or resistance in its rotation, the knob isconstructed so as to yield with respect to the shaft and to that end theknob is of a hollow construction and seated therein is a disc I3 whichis held against rotation with respect to the knob in any desired orsuitable manner such as by means of an ear or projection I4 seated in arecess I in the wall tration with the apertures It in the disc I3. BallsI9 are provided which are seated in the apertures I8 and project throughthe disc I! so that a portion thereof will enter the apertures I6 in thedisc I3.

Any desired number of annular spring members 20 engage and rest upon theballs I9. The disc i3 is provided with a circular opening 2I while thedisc I1 is provided with an opening 22 registering therewith, but theopening 22 is angular in cross-section as shown more clearly in Figure4.

The shaft II is provided with a reduced exiremity 24. The shaft passesthrough the annular spring member 20 and the reduced extremity 24 passesthrough the aperture 22 in the disc I! and is seated in the circularaperture 2| in the disc I3. The portion of the shaft II which is seatedin the aperture 2| is adapted to rotate in the disc i3 as the latter isheld against rotation by the ear or projection I4 seated in the recessI5. An angular portion of the reduced end 24 of the shaft II passesthrough the aperture 22 and causes the disc I7 to be held againstrotation when the rotation of the shaft is prevented, and the disc I3will be rotated with the handle and with respect to the disc I'I. Duringsuch rotation the springs 20 will yield to permit the balls I9 to moveout of the apertures I6 in the disc I3, so that the disc I3 may berotated. This rotation of the disc I3 may be continued until the ballsI9 are in a position to enter other apertures I6 in the disc I3.

Passing through the shaft I I is a pin 25 which engages and restsagainst the springs 20 and holds them under tension.

Resting against the pin 25 is an annular member 26 which forms a bearingor surface over which the pin 25 moves.

Resting against an annular shoulder 21 in the knob I0 is an annularmember 28 which latter may be of any desired thickness according to thenumber of spring elements 20 it is desired to employ.

A plate 29 encompasses the shaft II and rests against the member 26 andthe annular member 28, and a cap member 30 may also be provided, theperiphery of which is disposed preferably Within the knob I0 and restsagainst the plate 29.

The parts are held together in any suitable manner, such as by means offastening bolts 3| which pass through the cap plate 33, the plate 29,the annular member 28 and are screwed into the body of the knob l0.

It will thus be manifest that if the shaft H is held against rotationand it should be attempted to rotate the knob or handle H], the latterwill yield with respect to the shaft because the disc I! will also beheld against rotation by the angular portion of the shaft H passingtherethrough, but the disc l3 being connected with the knob or handleIil by means of the ear or projection Id seated in the recess I5, willrotate therewith causing the disc i3 to rotate with respect to the discIT.

This will cause the balls E9 to be forced out of the apertures It in thedisc 53 against the stress of the springs 28.

As soon, however, as the apertures it in the disc [3 are in alinementwith the balls [9, the springs 29 will project the balls [9 into theapertures H5.

The tension of the springs 2d is such that under normal conditions thenormal operation of the shaft I I or rotation of the handle or knob iii,the

' disc I3 and the disc I! will be locked together for simultaneousrotation by means of the balls While the preferred form of the inventionhas been herein shown and described, it is to be understood that variouschanges may be made in the details of construction and in thecombination and arrangement of the several parts, within the scope ofthe claims, without departing from the spirit of this invention.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In combination, an actuating shaft, a handle for rotating the shaft,a yieldable connection between said handle and the shaft, saidconnection embodying two discs rotatable one with relation to the other,each of said discs having apertures, means for maintaining one of saiddiscs against rotation with respect to said handle, means formaintaining the other'disc against rotation with respect to said shaft,separate elements seated in the apertures in one of said discs and alsoadapted to be seated in the apertures in theother ofsaid discs when saidapertures are brought into registering relation, said elements havingfree rolling engagement over the surface of one of said discs and alsobeing rotatable with relation to the other of said discs when said discsare relatively rotated, and resilient means operating to exert stressupon said elements in a direction lengthwise of said shaft to cause.them to be seated in said apertures.

2. In combination, an actuating shaft, a handle, for rotating the shaft,a yieldable connection between said handle and the shaft, saidconnection embodying two discs rotatable one. with relation to theother, each of said discs having apertures, means for maintaining one ofsaid discs against rotation with respect to said handle, means formaintaining the other disc against rotation with respect to said shaft,separate elements seated in the apertures in one of said discs, and alsoadapted to be seated in the apertures in the other of said discs whensaid apertures are brought into registering relation, said elementshaving free rolling engagement over the surface of one of said discs andalso being rotatable with relation to the other of said discs when saiddiscs are relatively rotated, resilient means operating to exert stressupon said elements to cause them to be seated in said apertures, saidresilient means embodying an annular element separate from the discs,the axis of which element coincides with the axis of said handle andagainst which annular element the said rotatable elements have a bearingsurface.

3. In combination an actuating shaft, a bandle for rotating the shaft, ayieldable connection between said handle and the shaft, said connectionembodying two discs rotatable one with relation to the other, each ofsaid discs having apertures, means for maintaining one of said discsagainst rotation with respect to said handle, means for maintaining theother disc against rotation with respect to said shaft, separateelements seated in the apertures in one of said discs and also adaptedto be seated in the apertures in the other of said discs when saidapertures are brought into registering relation, resilient meansoperating to exert stress upon said elements to cause them to be seatedin said apertures, said resilient means embodying an annular elemet theaxis of which coincides with the axis of said handle and against whichannular element the first recited elements have a bearing surface, thefirst said elements comprising balls having free rolling engagement overthe surface of one of said discs and also being rotatable with relationto the other of said discs when said discs are relatively rotated, saidballs also having rolling engagement with said annular element when saiddiscs are rotated with relation to the other, said balls being disposedwithin the confines of the peripheries, of said discs and said annularelement.

4. In combination, an actuating shaft, a handle for rotating the shaft,a yieldable connection between the said handle and shaft, saidconnection embodying alined elements disposed in close proximity to eachother, the proximate faces of said elements being of substantial areaand each being provided with spaced open recesses, one of said elementsbeing connected with the handle for rotation therewith and with respectto the other element, the other of said elements being connected withsaid shaft for rotation therewih and with respect to the first saidelement, separate elements disposed between said faces and seated in therecesses in both faces when said recesses are in registering relation,said separate elements being movable out of the recesses in one of saidfaces and being maintained in the recesses in the other of said faceswhen the first said elements are rotated one with respect to the other,means operating to exert stress upon said separate elements to causethem to be seated in said recesses, the, last said means embodying aresilient disc, the said separate elements contacting and moving oversaid disc, and means for maintaining said disc under tension,

5, In combination with an actuating shaft, a

handle for rotating the shaft, a yieldable connection between the saidhandle and shaft, said connection embodying a disc connected to thehandle for rotation therewith, a second disc in abutment with the firstsaid disc and connected with the shaft for rotation therewith, the firstsaid disc havinglaterally opflning recesses within the confines oftheperiphery thereof, a plurality of ballscarried by the second saiddisc and projecti l beyond the. lateral face thereof to enter therecesses in the first said disc, said balls projecting beyond bothlatera l' faces of the second said disc anda dapted to leave therecesses in the first. said disc when the discs are relatively rotated,and a yieldable surface separate from the discs and operating upon theballs to move them into the recesses of the first said disc, said ballshaving free rolling engagement over the surface of one of said discs andalso being rotatable with relation to the other of said discs when saiddiscs are relatively rotated.

6. In combination with an actuating shaft, a handle for rotating theshaft,'a yieldable connection between the said handle and shaft, saidconnection embodying a disc connected to the handle for rotationtherewith, a second disc in abutment with the first said disc andconnected with the shaft for rotation therewith, the first said dischaving laterally opening recesses within the confines of the peripherythereof, a plurality of balls carried by the second said disc andprojecting beyond the lateral face thereof to enter the recesses in thefirst said disc, said balls projecting beyond both lateral faces of thesecond said disc and adapted to leave the recesses in the first saiddisc when the discs are relatively rotated, a yieldable surface separatefrom the discs and operating upon the balls to move them into therecesses of the first said disc, said balls having free rollingengagement over the surface of one of said discs and also beingrotatable with relation to the other of said discs when said discs arerelatively rotated, and a pin passing through said shaft and contactingsaid surface for maintaining the latter under tension.

7. In combination with an actuating shaft, a handle for rotating theshaft, a yieldable connection between the said handle and shaft, saidconnection embodying a disc connected to the handle for rotationtherewith, a second disc in abutment with the first said disc andconnected with the shaft for rotation therewith, the first said dischaving laterally opening recesses within the confines of the peripherythereof, a plurality of balls carried by the second said disc andprojecting beyond the lateral face thereof to enter the recesses in thefirst said disc, said balls projecting beyond both lateral faces of thesecond said disc and adapted to leave the recesses in the first saiddisc when the discs are relatively rotated, a yieldable surface separatefrom the discs and operating upon the balls to move them into therecesses of the first said disc, said balls having free rollingengagement over the surface of one of said discs and also beingrotatable with relation to the other of said discs when said discs arerelatively rotated, a pin passing through said shaft and contacting saidsurface for maintaining the latter under tension, and an abutmentagainst which said pin operates, whereby the handle will be maintainedagainst detachment from said shaft.

8. In combination with an actuating shaft, a handle for rotating theshaft, a yieldable connection between the said handle and shaft, saidconnection embodying a disc connected to the handle for rotationtherewith, a second disc in abutment with the first sai disc andconnected with the shaft for rotation therewith, the first said dischaving laterally opening recesses within the confines of the peripherythereof, a plurality of balls carried by the second said disc andprojecting beyond the lateral face thereof to enter the recesses in thefirst said disc, said balls projecting beyond both lateral faces of thesecond said disc and adapted to leave the recesses in the first saiddisc when the discs are relatively r0- tated, a yieldable surfaceseparate from the discs and operating upon the balls to move them intothe recesses of the first said disc, said balls having free rollingengagement over the surface of one of said discs and also beingrotatable with relation to the other of said discs when said discs arerelatively rotated, and a conical shield secured to and projecting fromsaid handle and encompassing the shaft.

MYRON H. RICHARDSON. FLOYD C. BLACK. ALBERT E. GEBERT.

